Spain Urges EU to End Association Agreement with Israel

Spain will ask the European Union to end its association agreement with Israel over alleged violations of international law, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

Spain is known to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government over the Gaza conflict and Israel's attacks on neighboring Lebanon.

On the other hand, Netanyahu accused Spain of being "hypocritical and hostile."

"On Tuesday, the Spanish government will submit a proposal to the European Union for the European Union to decide on its association agreement with Israel," Prime Minister Sanchez said at a political rally in Andalusia on Sunday, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (20/4).

PM Sanchez accused Israel of "violating international law" and therefore "cannot be a partner of the European Union. It's that simple."

The June 2000 association agreement between the European Union and Israel includes a clause requiring respect for human rights.

Spain and Ireland first called for a review of the deal in 2024, amid concerns over tactics used in the war in Gaza in response to Hamas's attacks on Israel in October 2023.

Spain's recognition of the State of Palestine in the same year angered Israel, while PM Sanchez has stepped up his criticism of PM Netanyahu's government since then.

Last week, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia sent a letter to the European Commission on Friday calling for the deal with Israel to be discussed at the next EU foreign ministers' meeting.

This month, PM Netanyahu accused Spain of launching a hostile diplomatic campaign against his country and barred Madrid from participating in the work of a US-led center formed to help stabilize post-war Gaza.

"Israel will not stand idly by in the face of those who attack us," Netanyahu said at the time.

"I am not ready to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I will not allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without facing direct consequences," he said.